Why choosing the right web designer matters
You will use the website for years. A good designer saves you time, money and stress; a bad choice means overpriced changes, a slow site or a website that does not really belong to you.
There are many web designers: agencies, freelancers, students, builders with an “expert on the phone”. You only see the difference once you work together, and by then it is too late. That is why it pays to ask a few specific questions before deciding.
I have more than 150 projects behind me and these are the questions clients ask most often. I answer them for myself too, so you know what to expect.
1 to 3: Portfolio, experience and references
Look at websites the designer has built, open them on your phone and check how fast they load. Make sure they still work and that the clients are happy.
- Can I see websites you have built? Do not just look at screenshots. Open live sites on your phone, click through pages and try the form.
- Have you built a website for a similar business? Industry experience helps; the designer knows what customers look for. For medical practices it is opening hours and announcements.
- Can I talk to one of your clients? A serious designer has no problem sharing a happy client's contact.
4 and 5: Design up front and how the work runs
Ask whether you will see a design before development and how many rounds of revisions are included. A clear process means fewer surprises.
- Will I see a design before I pay the full amount? The design should come first. With me you get it free within 2 working days and only then decide.
- How will the work run and how long will it take? Ask for the steps, the timeline and what you will need to supply: texts, photos, logo, logins.
I describe the website development process step by step in the article how to recognise a quality business website.
Want to see how I work?
Send me a short message and I will prepare a design of your website within 2 working days.
Get in touch6 and 7: Ownership and ongoing costs
Make sure the domain, code and logins will belong to you, and whether you pay anything monthly after launch. These are the most common hidden costs.
- Who will own the domain, code and logins? The right answer is: you. If the designer refuses to hand over access, that is a warning sign.
- Do I pay anything regularly after launch? Ask for an exact list: domain, hosting, licences, maintenance. More in the article a website without monthly fees.
8 and 9: Mobile, speed, SEO and editing content
The site must be designed for mobile, fast and have basic SEO settings. Also ask whether you will be able to edit the content yourself.
- Will the site be fast, mobile-friendly and ready for search engines? The basics include page titles and descriptions, a sitemap, optimised images and a secure connection.
- Will I be able to change texts, photos and opening hours myself? If so, how? A custom admin panel is simpler than a universal editor with hundreds of settings.
10: What happens after launch
A good designer does not disappear once the invoice is paid. Ask how quickly they respond to problems, how changes are priced and whether they can extend the site later.
- What if something needs fixing or adding? Find out how fast they reply, whether small bug fixes are covered and how new features are priced.
Websites often grow over time: a booking system, a calculator or enquiry automation gets added. It helps if the same person who knows the site can do it.
How to prepare for a smooth collaboration
Prepare a short description of your business and services, two or three websites you like, your logo, photos and contact details, and decide who will approve the design.
Even the best designer needs materials from you. Most of the time in a website project is not spent coding but waiting for texts and photos. It helps to prepare:
- a few sentences about what you do, for whom and what makes you different,
- a list of services or products to show on the site,
- two or three websites you like, and what exactly you like about them,
- your logo and brand colours, if you have them,
- your own photos of the premises, team or finished work,
- access to the domain and the current website.
It also matters that one person approves the design. If five people comment at once, revisions drag on and the result is a compromise nobody likes. With the materials ready, I can launch a simple website within a week of approving the design.
Warning signs when choosing
Unclear pricing, no design up front, refusal to hand over access, pressure to decide quickly and a portfolio you cannot open live.
- a “from” price with no explanation of what it includes,
- full payment up front without any design,
- the domain registered to the designer with no option to transfer,
- a portfolio of images that do not lead to live websites,
- promises like “first place on Google within a week”,
- no contract or written order.
Frequently asked questions
Is an agency or a freelancer better?
It depends on scope. For a small business a freelancer is often faster and more direct, as you talk to the person actually building the site. An agency suits large projects with several people.
Does my web designer need to be local?
No. The whole collaboration can happen online by e-mail and video call. I work with businesses in Slovakia, the Czech Republic and abroad.
How long does it take to build a website?
I send a design within 2 working days. A simple business website usually goes live within 7 days of approving the design and receiving the materials.
What should I prepare before contacting a designer?
A few sentences about your business, a list of services, links to websites you like, your logo and, if you have them, your own photos.
How do I recognise a quality website in a portfolio?
Open it on your phone, watch loading speed, menu clarity and how quickly you find the contact details. More in the article on quality business websites.
Want to solve this in your business?
Send me a short message about what you need and I will get back to you with a proposed solution.
Contact meI build custom websites, web applications and AI solutions for businesses in Slovakia, the Czech Republic and beyond. I write about how technology can save small businesses time and bring new customers.
